FTCE Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12 Practice Test

Which of the following was the primary issue addressed in Brown v. Board of Education?

1. The legality of special education programs

2. The inequality of separate facilities based on race

3. The rights of students with disabilities

4. The requirement for bilingual education

The correct answer is: The inequality of separate facilities based on race

The primary issue addressed in Brown v. Board of Education was the inequality of separate facilities based on race. This landmark Supreme Court case, decided in 1954, challenged the "separate but equal" doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson. The Court found that segregation in public schools created a sense of inferiority among Black children that undermined their educational opportunities. This decision was pivotal in advancing the civil rights movement, as it declared that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal and unconstitutional, thereby dismantling legal segregation in public education. The focus of the case was specifically on racial discrimination, making the topic of special education programs, rights of students with disabilities, and bilingual education less relevant to the core issues debated in this case. Brown v. Board of Education set a powerful precedent for equality in educational access, influencing future legislation and court rulings concerning civil rights and equality in education.